Bettor’s Guide: NFL Week 1 Picks, Point Spreads, Over-Unders

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[Editor's note: Spreads for the Monday night games have been added and picks posted.]

For the third straight year, our weekly NFL coverage will include a Bettor’s Guide and a Viewer’s Guide to get you ready for that week’s action in the National. Football. LEAGUE.

In the Bettor’s Guide, normally posted on Tuesdays, we run down the point spreads and over-unders for each game, and I give my against-the-spread picks. The Viewer’s Guide, typically posted on Wednesdays, runs down the TV listings and announcer assignments for each game.

And for those of you wondering whether you should pay attention to my picks, I’ve been relatively successful the last two years since I started doing this post every week. In 2009, I was somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 games over .500 for the season. Last year, I went 131-103-8.

Longtime readers of MSF know that I never wager money on sporting events, but I do enjoy the challenge of picking games against Vegas spreads. My methodology is simple: I get the earliest spreads during the week and post my initial gut reaction. That’s it. And as my records show, it’s been a successful strategy.

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Bettor’s Guide: NFL Week 17 Picks, Point Spreads, and Over-Under Odds

Week 16 did not quite reach the heights of my stellar Week 15 picks when I went 11-4, but I’ll take a 9-7 for my second straight plus-.500 week. For the season I now sit at 124-96-8.

And now I must make a series of picks that I dread. Week 17 is always tricky because not every team has something to play for, and some teams may end up resting their starters. Oh well, luckily my picks process involves not overthinking it and just going based on gut feel. Hopefully that serves me well here, where it’s especially hard to predict the outcomes in a league that is already especially hard to predict.

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MNF Preview: Redskins-Giants Spread, Analysis, and Pick

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giants-redskins-spread-pick-prediction-monday-night-football-washington-new-yorkEditor’s Note: AJ Kaufman’s weekly MNF coverage on MSF is sponsored by Sadler’s Smokehouse, a producer of premium pit smoked meats that are best described by Sadler’s slogan: Legendary since 1948.

Sadler’s premium meats are perfect for tailgating on Saturday, for grilling out at home on Sunday, or for when you are hosting a group of friends, or even just the family, on Monday night.

With a variety of delicious choices (beef, pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, and more) and availability at grocery stores throughout the U.S., Sadler’s meats are the tasty, convenient choice when you want to watch the big game and eat well while you’re doing it.

Check out Sadler’s Monday Night Football Recipe of the Week: Sadler’s Smokehouse Sadler’s Smokehouse Pulled Pork Asian Wraps

Visit the Sadler’s Smokehouse website: Sadler’s Smokehouse

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Monday Night Football Preview

New York Giants (7-6) at Washington Redskins (4-9)

  • Giants-Redskins Date: Monday, December 21
  • Giants-Redskins Kickoff Time: 8:30
  • Giants-Redskins TV Network: ESPN
  • Giants-Redskins Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden
  • Giants-Redskins Point Spread: Giants -3
  • Giants-Redskins Over-Under Odds: 43
  • Giants-Redskins Spread Pick: Boy oh boy, it is hard for me to justify taking the Giants minus 3 here. New York hasn’t been able to stop anyone through the air, and the Redskins suddenly have a potent passing game. Obviously the Giants need this game more, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the Redskins are going to revel playing the underdog role, and are going to be successful doing so at home. Giants-Redskins free pick: Redskins +3

Giants-Redskins Analysis

If Cowboy fans think they’re team is desperate for a big win, they can look to New York for “empathy.” Few teams have been as porous as the Giants the past two months. Once 5-0 and benefiting from a weak schedule, they’ve gone 2-6 since, and now find themselves clinging to the final playoff spot alongside Dallas, Atlanta and San Francisco.

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NFL Week 15 Picks, Point Spreads, TV Schedule, and Announcer Lineup

Update: The NFL Week 17 TV schedule, point spreads, and picks post is up.

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Update 12/19: All spreads and picks have been entered below except for the Jets-Falcons game, which still is not on the board.

I am now officially treading water.

After going .500 during Weeks 13 (9-7) and Week 14 (7-9) I currently sit at 7-8 heading into tonight’s Cardinals-49ers matchup on Monday Night Football (I have Arizona -3). So while I’m still 23 games over .500 for the year (111-88), I don’t like this feeling that I’m limping towards the finish line.

Of course, when one of the games I missed was taking the Steelers (-10) over the Browns, and then the Browns actually won, I guess I can’t be too upset. Josh Cribbs was right when he said that fans would pretty forgive everything if the team beat the Steelers.

I, however, do not have one game Super Bowls that I can count on. My goal is to get to at least 30 games .500 by the end of Week 17. That means I need a good showing this week.

Let’s roll through the Week 15 TV schedule, point spreads, and picks.

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